Help nonGeek make Mini-tablet choice

LarryT · #1 10-09-2013, 04:26 PM

I fly strictly day VFR. For years I have been happy navigating with a spiral bound Air Charts Sectional book and a compass. Then I added a Bendix AV8OR moving map GPS, primarily in the hope that I could add XM weather. Unfortunately, I could never get the XM device to communicate with the AV8OR, although I did get them to work with each other outside of the plane. :-(

To my disappointment, AirCharts quit publishing the Sectional books :-(

My ultimate goal is to have a sunlight readable moving sectional map with weather display - so I can fly away from or well around weather. :-)

For me, this is an expense that is hard to justify without having some work benefit. The best use I could get of a tablet in my forensic engineering practice is to store scene photos taken by others. Then I can page through them when I am inspecting a scene, usually long after most or all of the evidence is gone. Currently I print out photo hard copies, but the resolution is crummy and they are hard to deal with out at a scene with the wind blowing.

I would appreciate recommendations based on my intended use from some of you who are experienced electronic flight bag users instead of a dumb gearhead like me. Questions I have:

iOS or Android? iPad mini seems to have the best apps, not very good in sunlight.

Best VFR app to use.

What peripheral accessories do I need to have weather overlay on the map?

How much storage for photo use? 64G?

I have no requirement for a cell phone that I am aware of.

How much should I expect to spend?

Anything else I have overlooked?

Thanks in advance. I sure appreciate any help you can give me.

Larry Tompkins
544WB -6A
W52 Battle Ground WA

Shimoda · #2 10-09-2013, 06:36 PM

iPad mini works great for me, with AirnavPro, Aeroweather and some other (local to NZ) apps.

regular iPad was just tooo large in the front of RV4 (but mini is perfect).... screen is fine even in sunlight, and the 'on-board' GPS works fine with me using 'pad like a kneepad (i.e. have found no need for bluetooth GPS yet)

FWIW

Stu McCurdy · #3 10-09-2013, 06:49 PM

I use Nexus 7 Android, now about $200 with 32GB, or $239 for new upgraded Nexus 7-2. Very sunlight readable. Internal GPS, WiFi only, no USB. I use AVARE (pronounced Av Air) navigation which is FREE on Play Store and works very well. There is a Nexus 7 forum page on all this which rates it very highly.

LarryT · #4 10-09-2013, 07:30 PM

... does not look like it has nexrad weather overlay capability. Is that correct?

Larry

Kyle Boatright · #5 10-09-2013, 07:38 PM

I have an iPad Mini, a Skyradar ADS-B receiver, and run WingX to bring it all together. My experience is very good with the setup.

When the weather is good, I leave the Skyradar in the bag.

The Mini is a little difficult to read in direct sunlight, but it is workable.

My sympathies to the OP. The AV80R wasn't ever ready for prime time. I was one of the first buyers (and returners) of that sad little unit.

Personally, I wish Garmin would bring out a 695/696 with integrated ADS-B. That would be the stuff...

rocketbob · #6 10-09-2013, 08:35 PM

I recently played around with the 2nd generation Nexus 7 with the Garmin Pilot app and was quite impressed. I have been flying with an iPad with Foreflight and found the Nexus having much better sunlight readability.

Walt · #7 10-09-2013, 08:57 PM

I just picked up an N7 a few days ago and loaded the Garmin app, I like it

DougJ · #8 10-09-2013, 09:32 PM

I'm using Garmin Pilot on my 1st gen Nexus 7, and it works great. I'm not connecting anything to it for weather at this time, I'm very satisfied with it's performance as a stand-alone device. I'm sure pairing it with something like a GDL-39 would be pretty amazing though.

All that was available when I bought it was the 32GB version. Right now I've got the US navigation data and airport info, sectionals, IFR low's, IAP's for about 2/3 of the country, and a few WAC charts loaded. I have a bunch of apps, FAA and other publications, Avilution aviation maps trial software, etc. I don't have a lot of pictures on it and no music. The sytem uses up some of the memory, so there's only about 28 GB available, It's got about 21 GB free at this point.

The Garmin Pilot app just keeps getting better and better all the time.

Capflyer · #9 10-10-2013, 04:16 AM

Another vote for the Nexus 7-2. I have the 2nd Gen with 16GB running Naviator and love it. Great tablet made for Google by Asus. Fast, smooth, sunlight readable, decent internal GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, the right size for an RV cockpit, and best of all more $300 less than an iPad mini. Pare it to one of the external GPS/ADS-B units on the market and you get more than any VFR pilot will ever need.

sailvi767 · #10 10-10-2013, 05:27 AM

There is not a single tablet out there where you will be able to read it in the sun while wearing sun glasses. Yes you can make do by shading the device and lifting your glasses off but none have the required brightness for sun operations. If they did the battery life would be terrible. I would spend a little more and pick up a used 696. It will do everything you need and far more. In addition it provides a excellent safety backup for almost any panel failure situation.

George